Category Archives: Kit’s Tips

Creating the “Space” for Someone to Think

Give someone the “space” to think. I don’t mean just the physical space (which is very important) but also the time, quiet and the permission to think. And watch your company grow.

This is a relatively easy thing to do. As a leader you ask (rather than tell) some simple questions that are designed to open and expand someone else’s thinking power. They are doing the work, not you – and that’s what they were hired to do. It takes you setting aside your ego – the need to be the “expert,” to always be right and to be in control. It takes trusting that you really did hire the best of the best.

By asking simple, coach-oriented questions, you are creating the psychological space for someone else to think, create and to run with their ideas.

Here’s how this conversation could flow – very simple but very empowering. This is you as the leader speaking. Watch who’s doing all the work . . . not you, but the person you hire. You just got out of the way.

  1. “What have you already been thinking about?”
  2. “What would you recommend?”
  3. “What could get in the way?”
  4. “What resources do you need to move forward?”
  5. “How can I help you move forward on this?”
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Starting with that First Impression

First impressions are critical in both our professional and personal lives. And they are even more important when we are embarking on any kind of major life or career transition. We don’t usually take the time to think about how others perceive us – we just let those impressions happen and hope for the best. But are those impressions what we really want or who we really are?

Let’s take control of that first impression by crafting an authentic personal brand that lets others know who we are, what we stand for and most importantly the unique value that we bring others. It happens fast – people get a sense of us within minutes, so let’s make sure they see us as we want to be seen and known. To get you started here are three powerful questions:

  1. “What first impression do I want to give others?”
  2. “What do I want to be known for (reputation) in my professional & personal world?”
  3. “What legacy do I want to leave behind?”

The answers to these questions will help you clarify who you really are. Now, the next step is identifying the unique value you bring others and then finally, the challenge of communicating this to your greater world.

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Use Mind-Mapping to Jog Your Memory

After years of working and living, each of us is in numerous personal and professional networks – some that come to mind quickly and others we may have forgotten about. But how do we remember these connections?

Try using a mind map picture. It’s easy. Start with a blank piece of white paper. Draw a small circle in the middle—that’s you—and now draw several lines shooting off from the central circle. Put circles at the end of those lines. Name those circles for the networks that come easily to mind.

For example, I started with simple networks (often geographic areas) such as: Reno Work; Military Life; Norway; Virginia; San Diego; Kids’ School etc. Next, I chunked those larger networks down starting with my current work which I broke down to colleagues, favorite companies, professional development, etc.

Mind mapping is a way to jog your memory. I’m starting to remember all sorts of folks that I would enjoy reaching out to. With today’s technology—especially Facebook & LinkedIn— that’s not hard to do. I’m going to start with just a handful of favorite “old” friends and see where those lines take me. I’ll let you know what happens and please tell me how it is working for you as well.

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Clarifying What Really Makes “You” Happy

The recent research in the science of happiness is intriguing. And it confirms what we were learning in our work in Crete – that true happiness doesn’t just come from those wild moments of high excitement but rather from the slower steady pace of a daily life engaged in a higher purpose that has real meaning to you. And that “meaningful purpose” is unique for each person.

In his recent book, Delivering Happiness, Tony Hsieh writes about the power of happiness in both creating successful businesses and successful personal lives. He describes three types of happiness:

  • Pleasure – the “high” of doing something
  • Passion – being in the “flow” with peak performance & peak engagement
  • Purpose – being part of something bigger & with personal meaning

The research shows us that all three kinds of happiness are good, especially woven together in our daily lives. But the research also helps us remember that happiness drawn from Pleasure dissipates very quickly, happiness from Passion lasts a bit longer but is still temporary and the happiness from Purpose is the longest lasting and most sustainable. So what really makes you happy?

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Is Your Business in a “Mid-Life” Phase?

Wow, it’s hard to believe that my coaching & training business is over ten years old. It’s been very successful and everything I’ve wanted –from the scope, variety and depth of services, to an extensive involvement in my professional community & networks. And the icing on the cake is having the same wonderful office down here by the Truckee River in an old red brick home converted to offices.

And it’s been a conscious choice to build and develop my business to be just the right size and shape for what I want at this time in my life. I can do – and have done – anything I want. I’ve had the opportunity to “throw spaghetti” on the wall whenever I get “yet another” creative idea. I throw it out – give it a whirl – and see what happens. While maintaining the integrity of my business, I’ve learned that in this economy we all need to be willing to take the risks, push the comfort zones and continually create the business that we really want for ourselves.

But now that my business is in its mid-life . . . what do I want now for my business? Certainly, to continue to be part of people’s lives as they move through significant career and life transitions. That’s been the theme of my life’s work and I love it. But I would also like to change it up a bit and hopefully, that will be more overseas work.

Let’s see what ideas and “spaghetti” I bring back from the sun and waters of Greece!

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